Shopping trolley for supermarkets and the like

Abstract: A supermarket and the like shopping trolley of the kind comprising a basket (1) mounted on a support structure (4) having a user handle (5) and which support structure is mounted on a wheeled carriage (2), the basket being openable at its rear to permit nesting of similar trolleys, the rear opening being closed by a swinging flap (18) characterised by a single plastics moulding which incorporates the basket (1) the support structure (4) and the wheeled carriage (2). Preferably the shopping trolley is characterised by one or more generally flat areas (6) on the front and/or side walls of the basket (1) the areas (6) being surrounded by retaining ribs (7), which areas (6) are adapted for the insertion of advertising plates (20).

Description: The present invention relates to a shopping trolley for supermarkets and the like, as defined in claim 1. In large establishments, such as supermarkets and the like, it is usual to provide shopping trolleys for the use of customers for the collection and movement of purchased goods, the said trolleys generally being fabricated from metal bars and rods. A recent idea has been to take advantage also of the said trolleys as means of advertising, for which different solutions have been developed, which is all cases are based on the incorporation on the aforementioned trolleys of supports intended to carry the advertising slogans. This however, with a conventional trolley leads to excessive costs, both in terms of their initial construction and also the application of means for carrying advertising slogans which suggests that a more advantageous construction might be in plastics, given the considerable constructional advantages which exist today with this type of material. Such a construction is disclosed in DE-A-2537214. In accordance with this and conforming to the present invention there is proposed a trolley made up from an integral assembly in plastics, in which are jointly integrated the basket for holding the products and the supporting structure, with the need to incorporate only the corresponding rolling elements on the base, and the door defining the rear wall of the basket, which must be pivotable to allow the stacking of trolleys together, the mounting of the said door being achieved by means of a simple engagement of couplings between respective formations on the door and other corresponding formations on the structural body of the trolley. On the side and front faces of the basket there is foreseen moreover the definition of areas for the incorporation of advertising plates, the areas being defined and shaped during the actual construction of the structural body of the trolley, without its being necessary to incorporate any accessory afterwards, other than simply attaching the desired advertising plates, by means of simple insertion. By this is obtained a trolley with a simple and economical construction, whose realisation permits an advantageous aesthetic aspect with the desired peculiarities, integrating in its actual formation the means for the easy incorporation of advertising plates without the need for any other element. For which reasons the said trolley which is the object of the invention has advantageous characteristics, which give it a life of its own and a preferred character in relation to the conventional trolleys of the same type which currently exist, made from metal. In order better to understand the nature of the invention, in the attached drawings show, by way of purely illustrative and non limitative example, one preferred form of industrial realisation, particularly described below. In the said drawings:- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a supermarket trolley; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view of the trolley; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the trolley, with one of the halves in cross section along a transverse plane at the level of half of the longitudinal dimension; Figure 4 is a side view in cross section of the trolley, without the rear flap of the basket; Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view, with one half in cross section showing the lower structural base; Figure 6 is a detail in cross section which shows the position of the rear door of the basket, showing the child seat, which is incorporated therein, opened up; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are all corresponding views in elevation, profile and from above, of one of the tongues which may be incorporated in the trolley on the sides of the rear flap of the basket; Figures 10 and 11 correspond to a side view in cross section and corresponding half front view of the piece making up the rear flap of the basket; Figures 12, 13 and 14 correspond to a side view in cross section, half front view and a respective transverse section of the plate forming the back of the folding seat incorporated in the aforementioned rear flap of the basket; Figures 15 and 16 show respectively a side view in cross section and a corresponding front view of the plate which joined with the other aforementioned forms the folding seat assembly, and Figures 17 and 18 are both details which correspond respectively to a vertical section and a horizontal section of one of the areas of the basket intended for the incorporation of advertising on the trolley. Clarifying Details 1. Basket 2. Base or carriage 3. Wheels 4. Support structure 5. Handle 6. Areas for advertising 7. Surrounding ribs 8. Articulated fixing formations 9. Lower abutment 10. Seat plate 11. Back plate 12. Angular piece 13. Fixing lugs 14. Insertion openings 15. Nesting recess 16. Bending zone 17. Additional platform 18. Swinging flap 19. Insertion housing 20. Advertising sheet 21. Transparent plate 22. Mouth 23. Insertion formations 24. Mounting formations 25. Insertion formations 26. Mounting formations 27. Slot 28. Perpendicular edge 29. Protruding formations 30. Receiver 31. Recess. In the drawings there is shown a shopping trolley for supermarkets and the like, which is made up from a single moulding in plastics material, which includes unitarily the basket (1) for keeping the products, the base or carriage (2) in which are to be incorporated the wheels (3) for movement, and the support structure (4) in whose upper part is defined between both sides the corresponding user handle or grip (5) for manoeuvring. This whole assembly is made up with internal and/or external ribs, which give the necessary structural rigidity, while the walls and the base of the basket (1) may be provided with grooves, flat central zones or areas (6) being provided in the side and front faces of the said basket (1), surrounded by a raised rib (7) like a frame, in such a way that on the said zones (6) it is possible to incorporate advertising plates, by means of a simple insertion. In accordance with one particular embodiment, which is non-limitative, as can be seen in figures 17 and 18, the aforementioned advertising zones (6) may define a peripheral housing (19), either to situate the actual zone (6) in recess with respect to the corresponding wall of the basket (1), or projecting outwards from the contour, as with the rib (7) previously mentioned, in whose housing (19) is possible to mount the desired advertising sheets (20), which may be assembled on their own or jointly with a transparent plate (21) placed in front; it being foreseen that the housing (19) is open along one side or along the upper edge, to define a mouth (22) which facilitates the insertion and extraction of the sheets (20) and the plate (21) by simple sliding. In the aforementioned unitary structural assembly, the rear part of the basket (1) remains open, the closure of this part being foreseen by means of an independent flap (18), also made of plastics, which is incorporated during assembly by means of an upper articulated fixing, by means of corresponding fixing formations (8), making in the lower part an abutment (9) which limits its rearwards movement. Said flap (18) remains thus in a position in which it can swing inwards, by means of a gyration on the fixing formations (8), which permit the introduction of one trolley into another for stationary stacking, as in the case of conventional trolleys, to which end the basket (1), as well as the structural base (2) taper towards the front end, with the object of making it able to introduce the front of another trolley through the rear. In the aforementioned flap (18), which is therefore like a collapsible door in this rear part of the basket (1), there is also foreseen the incorporation of a child seat, which is made up of two respective plates (10) and (11), mounted by articulated fixing on the flap (18) in such a way that one of the said plates (10), working as a seat, passes through the other plate (11), working as a back, making up a folding assembly which may remain collapsed in juxtaposition on the aforementioned flap (18), in such a way that it takes up little space in the inside of the basket (1); while to position it for use as a seat, it is necessary only to push and tilt the upper part to the plate (11) forming the back towards the inside of the basket. In accordance with one particular embodiment the plate (10) making up the seat, is provided (see figures 15 and 16) with an undulating configuration, having on one end partially open cylindrical housings (23), through which is possible an insertion coupling on respective formations (24) of the flap (18), with a pivoting mounting which permits the swinging of the said plate (10). The plate (11) forming the back, (see figures 11, 12 and 13) having for its part other end housings (25), also partially open, by means of which is possible in its turn the insertion coupling on respective formations (26) of the flap (18), defining also a pivoting mounting which permits the swinging likewise of the said plate (11). The aforementioned plate (11) has moreover a central slot (27), through which is passed during assembly the plate (10), which for its part has on the end opposite to that of the coupling on the flap (18), a perpendicular receiver (28) on the front edge and prominent formations (29) on the sides, constituting with all this an abutment which prevents the exit of the said end through the aforementioned slot (27) of the plate (11). In this way, a mounted assembly is defined between both plates (10) and (11) and the flap (18) such that when the plate (11) is swung from above towards the inside of the basket (1), the plate (10) draws back through the slot (27), until the formations (29) and the receiver (28) establish an abutment which assures the stability of the assembly in an unfolded position, as can be seen in Figure 6, that is to say with the plate (10) in a position as a seat base and the plate (11) in position as a back. From this unfolded position, it is sufficient with a swing towards the rear of the plate (11), by means of simple pulling on the upper part of the same towards the flap (18), for the said plate (11) to be collapsed in juxtaposition against the aforementioned flap (18), at the same time as the plate (10) draws back through the slot, in order to collapse down by the other side on the actual door (18) between the sides of that plate (11), the whole assembly thereby being folded, without projecting inside the basket (1), and without obstructing the placing of objects inside the same. With a view to the ability to fold, the plate (10) is provided with a receiver (30) in the end where the mounting couplings (23) go, which permits the said plate (10) to fall down without difficulty in front of the plate (11) when this arrives in juxtaposition against the flap (18); while the said plate (11) is provided with recesses (31) which permit the adaptation on the articulations (8) of the mounting of the door (18), making possible the return of the aforementioned plate (11) with respect to this flap (18), in order that the structure of the seat remains almost completely concealed in the folded position. With the intention of preventing the possible escape of small articles between the door (18) and the corresponding side walls of the structural assembly of the basket (1), in the lower zone of the corresponding part of the supporting structure (4), which is where such an eventuality could occur, there is foreseen the incorporation on the side walls themselves of tongue-like pieces (12), such as that shown in figures 7 to 9. The said pieces (12) are, as can be seen, of a dihedral shape, being fixed by one of their wings, by means of the insertion of some lugs (13) in corresponding holes (14) made in the side walls of the basket (1), in such a way that the other wing remains perpendicularly towards the inside, in front of the flap (18), consequently closing the space which may exist between this and the respective sides of the basket (1). This incorporation of the aforementioned pieces (12) is established in a nesting recess (15) of the said side walls of the basket (1), such pieces (12) having in the edge of the corner a bending zone (16); in such a way that on effecting the introduction of one trolley into another in the stack, said pieces (12) flex lodging themselves in the corresponding nesting recesses (15), allowing the introduction of the stacking between the trolleys referred to, without any difficulty. In accordance with one particularity, in order to increase the possibilities of loading on the trolley, it is foreseen that a platform 17 on the base structure or carriage (2) may be incorporated to permit the placing of objects also on this base (2); the aforementioned platform (17) must be a swinging assembly, as can be seen in Figure 1, to permit the stacking introduction of the trolleys. The grip or handle (5) is provided with a section adequate safely to support the stresses to which it must be submitted when manoeuvring the trolley, it being foreseen that said grip (5) has at least in one zone an appropriate section for the fixing of the coin holder with which it is necessary to provide these trolleys for their attachment to each other and to the corresponding place in the stacked parking of the same. Without altering the concept and the essence of the invention, for the advertising on the trolley, in the same way there could be provided supports also incorporated on the zones (6), fixed by adhesive, screwing or any other conventional method.

Claims: A supermarket and the like shopping trolley of the kind comprising a basket (1) mounted on a support structure (4) having a user handle (5) and which support structure is mounted on a wheeled carriage (2), the basket having a front and sides and being open at its rear to permit nesting of similar trolleys, the rear opening being closed by a swinging flap (18), the basket (1) the support structure (4) and the wheeled carriage (2) comprising a single plastics moulding, characterized by angular pieces (12) on the basket and which close the lower part of a gap defined between the said swinging flap (18) and the said sides of the basket, the said pieces (12) having a bending zone (16) about which they hinge whereby they are retractable into corresponding nesting recesses (15) in the sides of the basket when the trolleys are nested or stacked together. A shopping trolley according to claim 1, characterized by one or more generally flat areas (6) on the front and/or side walls of the basket (1) the areas (6) being surrounded by retaining ribs (7), which areas (6) are adapted for the insertion of advertising plates (20). A shopping trolley according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by a pair of plates (10,11) hingedly mounted on the swinging flap (18) of the basket (1) such that the plate (10) passes midway through the plate (11), the said plates (10,11) constituting an assembly which is foldable against the swinging flap (18), and which can be erected to form a child's seat with a back. A shopping trolley according to any preceding claim, characterised by a load platform (17) on the wheeled carriage (2), said platform (17) being articulated on the front of the carriage (2) to permit stacking or nesting of similar trolleys. A shopping trolley according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the advertising areas (6) have a peripheral housing (19), in which an advertising plate (20) can be inserted, on its own or with a transparent plate (21) in front, the said housing , (19) being open at one side or the top edge (22), for the introduction and extraction of the plates (20).

Inventors: SEGURA DE LUNA GERARDO, SEGURA DE LUNA, GERARDO
Applicants: POLICAD IND S L, POLICAD INDUSTRIAL S.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B62B3
IPC codes: B62B3